Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems

Transcription

1 G3ict Publications & Reports Business Case White Paper Series Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies A Flagship Advocacy Initiative of the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development

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3 Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems A G3ict Business Case White Paper Series March 2013

4 Acknowledgments This white paper follows discussions from the 6th European e-accessibility Forum organized by the Association BrailleNet and Universcience in Paris, France, on March 26, Insert here logos of the organizing organizations : BrailleNet, Universcience G3ict wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the organizers of the e-accessibility Forum, Universcience and BrailleNet for making the proceedings of the European e-accessibility Forum available for publication by G3ict and to Dominique Burger and Katie Durand for their invaluable editorial contributions in developing the concept of this white paper. G3ict is an Advocacy Initiative of the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development, launched in December 2006 in cooperation with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at UN DESA. Its mission is to facilitate and support the implementation of the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities promoting e-accessibility and assistive technologies. G3ict participants include organizations representing persons with disabilities, industry, the public sector, and academia. G3ict relies on an international network of ICT accessibility experts to develop practical tools, evaluation methods and benchmarks for States Parties and Disabled Persons Organizations to implement policies in support of assistive technologies and e-accessibility. Since its inception, G3ict has organized or contributed to 100 awarenessraising and capacity-building programs for policymakers in cooperation with international organizations such as the ITU, UNESCO, UNITAR and the World Bank. With ITU, G3ict co-produces the e-accessibility Policy Toolkit for Persons with Disabilities (www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org), which is widely used around the world by policymakers involved in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Editors Dominique Burger, UPMC-INSERM, Chair of BrailleNet Katie Durand, Freelance Consultant Contributors Shadi Abou-Zahra, Activity Lead, WAI International Program Office (W3C); Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet (UK); Matt Garrish, CData (USA); Markus Gylling, CTO of the IDPF and DAISY Consortium, Neelie Kroes, Vice president of the European Comission; Bruno Ménard, CIO at Sanofi (France); Cristina Mussinelli, Associazione Italiana Editori (Italy); Gerald Schmidt, Platform Manager at Pearson Education (UK); Rob Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft (USA) Reviewers Axel Leblois, Founder and Executive Director, G3ict David Ross, G3ict Editor Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Vice President, Institutional Relations, G3ict Design by Manuel Ortiz - Special Mentions This publication is intended for educational and informational purposes. References to specific companies have been included solely to advance these purposes and do not constitute and endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation by G3ict G3ict: Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies. All Rights Reserved. 909 W. Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA U.S.A G3ict is funded by contributions from leading corporations committed to e-accessibility: IBM, AT&T, Microsoft,, Adobe Systems, Time Warner Cable, Deque Systems, Blackberry, Sprint, Telecom Italia Vodafone Foundation, Code Factory, SSB Bart Group, and Motorola Mobility. For additional information on G3ict, visit

5 Business Case: Benefits and Costs of e-accessibility Foreword The Information Society has a responsibility to be accessible to all its citizens, without exception. This fundamental right was solemnly recognized on December 13, 2006 by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This convention has now been signed by all EU Member States. It concerns all digital technologies used to convey information and connect people, including the Web and mobile services. Accessibility and usability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) without discrimination is a necessary condition for the development of an inclusive society, where all citizens can take part equally. This principle is of particular concern to aging people and persons with disabilities; they often require adapted technology or specific devices, also known as assistive technologies, to access electronic content and services. While more and more daily tasks can be carried out online with limited physical movement and greater efficiency, certain hurdles can still rapidly become obstacles which prevent people with disabilities from taking full advantage of this potential. This G3ict White Paper presents and discusses The notion that e-accessibility must no longer be approached as an afterthought but rather as a core component of information systems with the potential to increase business and performance; The importance of widely recognized standards and technical guidance; The need for industry leaders to rise to the challenge and provide all stakeholders, from designers to end users, with the necessary tools and training to make e-accessibility feasible in large organizations; The means to design, build and distribute accessible products and services; and The importance of implementing accessibility in the day-to-day activities of digital content and service providers. For an increasing number of stakeholders, e-accessibility is not only an ethical duty to remove these obstacles, but is also a market opportunity. In Europe, for instance, 15 percent of the population has some form of disability, often linked with old age. Furthermore, about 60 percent of regular users also gain some benefit from improved accessibility. Several major manufacturers have already responded to this data by designing mainstream products which incorporate features that can be used to develop fully accessible services. As a result, we are seeing a complete change in the way people with some form of disability can use technology. The advent of new smart devices and digital formats that integrate accessibility is the first step towards making accessibility mainstream. Companies who show top-level commitment to developing new products and services based on sustainable working practices that take accessibility into account at the core of their information systems will invariably increase their market share and drive overall performance and innovation in their field. Dominique Burger UPMC-Inserm, Chair of BrailleNet Axel Leblois Executive Director, G3ict

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7 CONTENTS PREFACE : WEB-ACCESSIBILITY: A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS AN INFORMATION SOCIETY ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL, BY NEELIE KROES, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION EVERYBODY TECHNOLOGY, BY ROBIN CHRISTOPHERSON, HEAD OF DIGITAL INCLUSION, ABILITYNET THE PATH TO TRANSFORMING ACCESSIBILITY, BY ROB SINCLAIR, CHIEF ACCESSIBILITY OFFICER, MICROSOFT STANDARDS TO ENSURE A WEB FOR ALL, BY SHADI ABOU-ZAHRA, ACTIVITY LEAD, WAI INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE EPUB 3 AND INCLUSIVE PUBLISHING, BY MARKUS GYLLING, CTO OF THE IDPF AND DAISY CONSORTIUM, AND MATT GARRISH, CDATA THE CHALLENGE OF DEPLOYING E-ACCESSIBILITY IN LARGE COMPANIES, BY BRUNO MÉNARD, CIO AT SANOFI PRODUCING ACCESSIBLE SCHOOL E-BOOKS, BY GERALD SCHMIDT, PLATFORM MANAGER AT PEARSON EDUCATION THE LIA PROJECT: TOWARDS MAINSTREAM DISTRIBUTION OF ACCESSIBLE EPUB E-BOOKS IN ITALY, BY CRISTINA MUSSINELLI, ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA EDITORI CONCLUSION 6TH EUROPEAN E-ACCESSIBILITY FORUM 2012 PARTNERS Note: This G3ICT White Paper is a result of the European e-accessibility Forum, held on 26 March 2012 at the Cité des Sciences in Paris, at the invitation of BrailleNet. 220 professionals, association members and scholars from around the world gathered on this occasion to discuss how to put e-accessibility at the core of information systems. Seven of the conference speakers, all actively involved in e-accessibility, have accepted the invitation to update the opinions and points-of-view expressed on this occasion, in order to shape a review on this question.

8 01 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems Preface Web-Accessibility: A Critical Step Towards An Inclusive Information Society Accessible For All By Neelie Kroes, Vice president of the European Commission At my start as a Commissioner I had a Digital Agenda for Europe drawn up. It contained 101 actions to achieve one goal by 2015: Every European Digital. These actions span from basic infrastructure targets (for example to ensure everyone can go online via broadband) to targets on content, security and e-inclusion. We want to ensure that everybody has the skills, motivation and trust to actually go online. One action I would like to point out here is the action of the Digital Agenda on web-accessibility: to make sure that public sector websites are fully accessible by That s why the European Commission recently launched a legislative proposal on the accessibility of government websites. What our proposal on the accessibility of government websites says is essentially very simple: let s make 12 types of relevant government websites accessible. Let s do it according to one and the same set of requirements. Let s do it quickly and let s do it in a way that s future proof. By making public websites accessible in a harmonised way, we can have a big impact. We can boost the market for web-accessibility, create clarity and simplicity for those in charge of the accessibility of websites, create new market opportunities for web-accessibility experts, and provide many people with the opportunity to participate in our economy and society. I hope G3ict members will support the proposal and will contribute to its implementation. This white paper contains inspiring and guiding articles that contribute to a further professionalization of your work, and e-accessibility for all. This White paper bears a clear relation to that action, but even more inspiring is the wider idea we all share: to make digital information and communication technology accessible for each and every one of us. To create an e-inclusive society where also older adults, people with disabilities or others with social and economic disadvantages, can fully participate. Right now they often can t, while they would benefit most! Achieving an inclusive information society becomes more and more important, as each day brings new ICT enabled innovations: products, services, applications and content. We cannot wait to make these available to those who are now excluded from them. I thank the work G3ict and all its stakeholders and supporters do, and for not giving up making this a reality. I fully subscribe to their goal to put e-accessibility at the core of information systems. It is good to have standards, assistive technologies and authoring tools. But it is absolutely necessary to have the people with the awareness, the vision, the knowledge and the skills to actually make websites and digital content accessible to all.

9 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems 02 E-Accessibility for All Everybody Technology Mainstream touchscreen devices are truly heralding an age of more inclusive Everybody Technology. But what is Everybody Technology and who does it cater to? By Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet Robin Christopherson is the Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet. After studying at Cambridge University, Robin worked for the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and became a founding member of AbilityNet in AbilityNet specialises in accessibility auditing and disabled user testing, as well as helping clients design attractive websites that are both accessible and easy to use for everyone. Despite being blind, Robin uses technology very effectively, using speech output to access computers, the internet, his iphone and many other technologies to assist him in his work. He also advises companies on their obligations under the Equality Act and the Disability Equality Duty including the evaluation of case specific reasonable adjustment. Until quite recently, technological gadgets and appliances (from phones to fridges, from computers to cars) were designed for the 80 percent, and no more. These 80 percent are those customers described as able bodied. They have fully functional working parts, including legs, arms, eyes and ears customers that have no problems interacting with gadgets designed by people who themselves have vision and fully dextrous digits. The remaining 20% consumers are those with any sort of disability: a sight impairment or a physical disability, a cognitive problem such as dyslexia or an age-related condition affecting their dexterity or their ability to learn or remember. These consumers earlier had to rely on very expensive specialist gadgets that were designed especially for the old or disabled, and often based upon outdated, less sophisticated technologies. Recently, something exciting has happened. A movement towards more inclusive technology has emerged, spearheaded by Apple and their mobile idevices. Strange as it may seem, these touchscreen devices are truly heralding an age of more inclusive Everybody Technology. Let s first define what Everybody Technology is. For a device to approach the golden goal of being truly inclusive, it needs to embody several key elements. It needs to be: A mainstream device at mainstream prices, aimed at a broad customer base - not just primarily designed for the niche disabled or elderly markets; and Providing the full range of functions expected of a mainstream device but with a wide choice of input and output methods (to cater for a wide range of differing abilities) that afford access to all, and not just a subset, of those functions. Does a device such as an iphone meet these criteria? Arguably, it does. It s a mainstream product that has at its heart a brain (the operating system ios6) that has been developed in such a way as to support a multitude of input and output methodologies many of which are built-in right outof-the-box. We ll start with a list of those options that come as standard: Vision solutions: larger text, magnification and screen-reading (with Bluetooth support for a range of Braille displays and keyboards) Hearing solutions: custom vibrations, flash-alerts, mono-audio and support for a range of Bluetooth digital hearing aids Motor solutions: AssistiveTouch enabling multi-touch gestures to be assigned to custom single-finger (or mouth/headstick) gestures and support for other specialist headsets and switches

10 03 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems This built-in intelligence has made a huge range of third-party solutions possible, which combine with the iphone to make it a truly inclusive example of Everybody Technology. Apple didn t have to build a device that included every last input/output method used by people with different disabilities that is not asked of mainstream device manufacturers. They only had to build in a few of these methods and make sure the rest work by providing the necessary hooks (drivers and APIs). As a result, we see idevices forming the heart of many more complex solution for users with very severe and often multiple disabilities those users are still using an iphone or ipad with all the power and price advantages of such a mainstream device, and have only had to buy relatively inexpensive specialist peripherals. Add to this an app ecosystem that is based upon an accessible toolbox - and hence has resulted in huge choice for every user - and you have a platform that delivers for a really diverse customer-base. The iphone isn t perfect, but it s definitely pushing the boundaries and reaping the rewards as a result. Sales are soaring not only in the shops, but also in the vast bulk-contracts in the federal and education sectors in the US and elsewhere where there is a legal requirement to buy devices that are inclusive. Companies must look at their products and ask themselves, How can I make this more inclusive? They must work with disabled users and think of them as extreme users. By designing for them, they will simultaneously make their product supremely easy for their mainstream users. So this is the vision of Everybody Technology Not all devices can be as smart as a smartphone, of course. A can-opener doesn t have an operating system but it can still be given the extreme user treatment throughout the design process. A modern fridge may well have a touchscreen, but is it reasonable to build in drivers for a digital hearing aid? Maybe not - but it s important to at least ask the question. By considering everybody, companies will consider the full range of possible input and output methods used by their customers and will decide which of them are impossible to include (for that product iteration at least). One final point on the plethora of electronic devices we use every day. Semismart devices (such as microwaves, bathroom scales or blood-pressure monitors) can leverage the power of these all-pervasive smartphones to be the voice box of a device that would otherwise be mute, or the remote control of a device that would otherwise be too fiddly to use. If it s too costly to put speech or voice recognition on every fridge, ATM or TV settop box, an alternate may only be a matter of simply including the right hooks to talk to devices (such as an iphone) that already have those capabilities. A few pounds (or even pence) to include a Bluetooth chip and a tweak to the software to enable that device to talk to a smartphone (which already has that connectivity potential) can open up a world of choice for disabled users who already have an inclusive device set up, just the way they need it. Companies must stop the attitude of designing just for the 80 percent and throwing some crumbs at the rest in the form of expensive, feature-poor, specialist devices. Inclusion must be built in wherever possible, and links made to inclusive devices where not possible. We must design for everybody by embracing the principle of Everybody Technology. Learning Points Until recently, 20 percent of users had to rely on very expensive specialist technologies specifically designed for the old or disabled Affordable mainstream touchscreen devices with built-in accessibility features now cater to a wide range of differing abilities Third party solutions that link to smartphones via drivers and APIs offer further connectivity opportunities for users with severe or multiple disabilities In the future, smartphones may be used to operate semismart devices and appliances By considering everybody, companies will increase their market share and make their products highly accessible for mainstream consumers

11 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems 04 E-Accessibility for All The Path to Transforming Accessibility Success in our collective pursuit of digital inclusion and Accessible ICT relies on inclusive innovation and the formation of an international society of accessibility professionals. By Rob Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft Robert Sinclair is Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft, responsible for the company s worldwide strategy to develop software and services that make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to see, hear and use their computers. He believes that addressing the needs of people with a wide range of abilities is the key to transforming and improving the way everyone interacts with our increasingly digital world. As we examine the trends in technology over the past ten to fifteen years, we can easily see that the digital world around us is becoming increasingly complex. In the past five years we have seen an acceleration in the entrance of new devices and technologies in the market, and we know that accessibility is not keeping pace with these trends. This is partly due to the fact that the community of accessibility practitioners is overwhelmed by the quantity of standards work, public policy activities, review of new operating systems from Apple, Google and Microsoft, and survey of the rapid increase of websites and mobile applications. Accessibility is an increasingly complex pursuit, and we need better global strategies to achieve the level of inclusion required in our digitally connected societies. In this article, I propose two related concepts and areas of investment that I believe are essential to changing the trajectory of accessibility and digital inclusion. The first concept, Inclusive Innovation, highlights the need to think more broadly and more holistically about the way we design, build, deploy and support new products and services. Accessibility challenges extend beyond technical infrastructure and design methodology. They cannot be resolved without careful planning, reliable follow-through, and a true understanding of the value accessibility offers to every user of technology and every consumer of content and information. To achieve that outcome, we need a global approach to accessibility that enables and fosters the growth of a cadre of internationally recognized professionals people who are designers, developers, business leaders, educators, trainers and more. We need to transform accessibility into an international profession, similar to privacy and security. Inclusive Innovation There are a number of labels for design methodologies that begin with a focus on the needs of the customer. These include: user-centric design, design for all, universal design and inclusive design. The basic premise is sound, but most people apply them only to the design of the intended product or structure. Inclusive Innovation builds on these design methodologies by promoting the need for related considerations which reduce the cognitive load, improve customer adoption and simplify the modern, digitally driven lifestyle. This is in contrast to our current reality of an increasingly complex, technologically focused lifestyle. Inclusive Innovation is comprised of the following key elements: Inclusive Design: address the needs of a broad target audience aging, injured or disabled. Disseminated Expertise: ensure people across the organization deeply understand accessibility. Conscientious Innovation: consider the overall complexity and learning curve for the customer. Support Services: provide educational assets, forums and support to help customers succeed. The first element is a well-established design methodology, and the remaining three are easily achieved if an organization has the appropriate talent and expertise.

12 05 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems State of Accessibility Today As we look at trends around the world, we see some encouraging signs of progress. Microsoft s integration of speech recognition in Windows Vista enabled people with no use of their hands to use a PC at no additional cost. Apple s introduction of the VoiceOver screen reader in the MacOS and ios changed the blind and low-vision communities expectations for out-of-the-box accessibility in consumer electronics. IBM led the creation and standardization of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) which is helping improve accessibility of web sites around the world. Microsoft s revolutionary Kinect peripheral for the Xbox and PC is changing the way people experience entertainment, and it provides great value for children with autism. These are only a few examples from recent years, but there are many more examples that illustrate that we, as a global society, are far from achieving digital inclusion. Few companies understand the business case: many companies still struggle to understand that accessibility is a part of good design and smart business. New graduates are unaware of accessibility: few design or engineering programs incorporate inclusive design into their curriculum, so most students graduate have little or no understanding of accessibility. Difficulty identifying qualified accessibility experts: there are no formal credentials or examinations available to evaluate the expertise and experience of an individual claiming to be an accessibility expert. New products and content often inaccessible: many new applications and web sites are inaccessible. Most content (documents, imagery and videos) produced today fails to satisfy common accessibility criteria. Accessibility practitioners struggle to remain up-to-date: for those people who have become accessibility experts, it is difficult to maintain their knowledge. Increasing use of legislation and litigation: when customers do not feel their needs are being met by industry, they resort to litigation. Increasing litigation indicates consumers are dissatisfied with the level of accessibility in today s ICT products. Potential Root Cause Based on a review of the common accessibility challenges from the past twenty years, these symptoms could be a result of: Misunderstanding: many people today do not understand accessibility, how it leads to improved usability for everyone, and why it is important to achieve social and digital inclusion. Lack of mainstream integration: accessibility is not included in the curricula of most universities, it is not an integral part of the design, development and delivery of commercial products, and it is rarely considered as a strategic element of a company s business strategy. Increasing technical complexity: five years ago, most accessibility discussions related to web accessibility, Windows software and open source activities on Linux. Today, there are at least eight actively evolving and competing operating systems, new web and application technologies, and dozens of authoring tools. The digital landscape is increasingly complex. Insufficient global coordination and collaboration: there are a number of individuals and organizations who have created valuable accessibility resources. Unfortunately, many are not widely known or are only relevant for one particular region or country. The Missing Element While there is no single investment that will solve the world s accessibility challenges, one piece is clearly missing from our global approach. Accessibility is a highly complex domain that currently comprises of a selforganized community of deeply dedicated, largely self-taught practitioners. It is truly impressive to realize what they have achieved during the past 25 years, but the time has come to build an internationally recognized profession for accessibility. This same transition helped security and privacy to rapidly evolve into valued bodies of expertise in businesses and governments around the world over the past decade. Conclusion Without an international community of trained accessibility experts, it will be extremely difficult to move beyond today s pursuit of niche technology solutions. To achieve Inclusive Innovation and digital inclusion, we need experts in companies, organizations and governments around the world who have a shared understanding of accessibility and are equipped to apply it in their particular job function: business leader, product designer, software engineer, technical writer, customer support specialist, etc. Through that cadre of trained professionals, we can transform accessibility from niche accommodation to mainstream value that benefits everyone.

13 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems 06 To achieve Inclusive Innovation and digital inclusion, we need experts in companies, organizations and governments around the world who have a shared understanding of accessibility. Learning Points Despite isolated examples of accessibility success, digital inclusion is still a serious global problem Rapid and continuous change in the technology landscape illustrates why our collective approach to accessibility has not yet achieved the desired outcomes Success requires a more holistic design methodology that looks beyond technology and considers how new technology is introduced, what support is needed for people to be productive, etc. The complexity and breadth of challenges inherent in accessibility require a globally harmonized approach and carefully coordinated strategy that spans industry, government and advocacy It is time for an International Society of Accessibility Professionals

14 07 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems Design for All: Standards, Guidelines and Toolkits Standards to Ensure a Web for All Standards are the basis for uniform accessibility requirements, common expectations for developers and users, and an enlarged marketplace for e-accessibility. Standards enable governments and businesses to put e-accessibility at the core of information systems and to deliver products and services that are inclusive for all. By Shadi Abou-Zahra, Activity Lead, WAI International Program Office Shadi Abou-Zahra works with the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) as Activity Lead of the WAI International Program Office, which includes groups that are responsible for education and outreach, coordination with research, general discussion on web accessibility, coordination with the WAI Technical Activity, and WAI liaisons with other organizations including standards organizations and disability groups. Shadi coordinates WAI outreach in Europe, accessibility evaluation techniques, and international standards promotion and harmonization activities. Web as the Backbone of Information Systems The Web has rapidly evolved into a mature, rich, and complex platform that has become key for information, education, business and economy, research, civic participation, social interaction, entertainment and many more aspects of our daily lives. As it continues to evolve, it is also rapidly converging with other technologies and media. The Web is now the primary interface on mobile phones, tablets, televisions, game consoles, information screens, teller machines, car navigation and entertainment systems, and many other ICTs. The Web connects devices and enables interactivity with and through them in ways that were unthought-of earlier, in particular regarding providing access to people with disabilities. It is the backbone of information systems and is an essential medium that continues to provide unprecedented opportunities for people with disabilities to participate equally. Standards need to be developed in an open, consensus-oriented environment with participation of all stakeholders. Accessibility of Web Platform Technologies The Web platform is composed of core technologies that provide the functionality and the features available on the Web today. Hyper-Text Mark-up Language (HTML) continues to be the fundamental technology of the Web and is the base technology for providing web content. It is accompanied by Cascading Style-Sheets (CSS) that controls the appearance and JavaScript that controls the functionality of websites. These foreground technologies are supported by a stack of specifications that work in the background, mostly within the browser. They enable the Web on desktop computers and a plethora of devices.

15 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems 08 Each of these technologies is fundamental to Web accessibility. Each of the features they provide individually, as well as collectively when they are combined, needs to support accessibility. For example, accessibility support for a simple button element entails the possibility of providing corresponding labels, events to activate the button, and notifications that are triggered when the button is activated. Web technologies from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), such as HTML, CSS, and many more, are cross-checked for such accessibility features through the work of its Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Continued effort is needed to monitor, check and improve technologies as they evolve. Guidelines for Tools and Content Developers In addition to ensuring accessibility of core web technologies, W3C Web Accessibility Initiative also develops a set of guidelines that define accessibility requirements for web content and tools. These include: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) accessibility requirements for text, images, video, sound, forms, code and other aspects of web content; User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) accessibility requirements for web browsers, media players and other software that is used to access web content; and Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) accessibility requirements for content management systems (CMS), code editors and other software used to create web content. These guidelines are accompanied by specifications that extend the accessibility features of the core web technologies, such as HTML. These specifications include: W3C/WAI Accessibility Rich Internet Applications (WAI- ARIA) augments HTML and other web technologies with semantics for identifying landmarks on web pages, roles and states of widgets and applications, and for event notifications; and W3C/WAI Independent User Interfaces (Indie UI) provides abstractions for gestures, events, and complex user interaction including in the mobile context. Accessibility standards need to consider this relationship and involve research through the standardization process. This includes research on how to better include accessibility throughout the development process, in order to lower the perceived complexity and threshold for implementing accessibility that commonly exists among web developers. Conclusion: Implementing Standards in Practice While standards are essential for accessibility, standards in themselves do not make ICTs accessible. Standards need to be developed in an open, consensus-oriented environment with participation of all stakeholders. This includes researchers, industry, experts, and in particular the end-users. Standards also need to be supported by complementary training programs, management considerations, policies, tools, and processes to ensure that they are considered throughout the development process. Accessibility standards are measures and require appropriate considerations and processes to ensure that they are put at the core of information systems to deliver products and services that are inclusive for all. Learning Points Despite isolated examples of accessibility success, digital inclusion is still a serious global problem Rapid and continuous change in the technology landscape illustrates why our collective approach to accessibility has not yet achieved the desired outcomes Success requires a more holistic design methodology that looks beyond technology and considers how new technology is introduced, what support is needed for people to be productive, etc. The complexity and breadth of challenges inherent in accessibility require a globally harmonized approach and carefully coordinated strategy that spans industry, government and advocacy It is time for an International Society of Accessibility Professionals WCAG 2.0 has become the common standard for web accessibility in particular. It is recognized by organizations and governments internationally, and recently it has also been adopted by the International Standards Organization (ISO) as ISO/IEC Research and Development in Standardization Research and accessibility share a long history of innovation. Accessibility relies on the latest technologies and trends that are often adopted early on by people with disabilities. For example, people with disabilities have been using voice recognition to operate their computers, homes, and their wheelchairs long before the concept of smart homes reached the mainstream market. At the same time, the invention of the telephone by Graham Bell is closely linked to his research on hearing disabilities that revolutionized the entire ICT landscape.

16 09 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems Design for All: Standards, Guidelines and Toolkits EPUB 3 and Inclusive Publishing EPUB 3 represents the first key step to a truly inclusive publishing model, one where accessible content can flow directly from publisher to consumer. Much work, however, remains to be done. By Markus Gylling, CTO of the IDPF and DAISY Consortium, and Matt Garrish, CData Markus Gylling is the Chief Technology Officer of the IDPF (International Digital Publishing Forum) and the technical director of the DAISY Consortium. Markus has worked in the field of information accessibility since the late nineties and has extensive experience in developing accessibility standards for electronic books, and software tools to support the DAISY DTBook standard and the DAISY Pipeline standard. He leads the technical development of the EPUB standard. Fixing this iniquity through technology has been the guiding mission of the DAISY Consortium, an umbrella organization of non-profit agencies, talking book libraries, educational institutions and others who share the common goal of accessibly republishing content. Making print content accessible after the fact is a failing enterprise, however. It is estimated that only around 5 percent of books published each year are made available to readers with print disabilities. The reasons for this are manifold, but three key issues have arisen in the publishing ecosystem itself: 1. Creating a second accessible format is viewed as costly and complicated by publishers 2. Identifying accessible content and making it discoverable in electronic bookstores has not been possible 3. Mainstream reading system developers have not shown an interest in accommodating alternate formats for what they perceive to be a niche market Matt Garrish has been working in both mainstream and accessible publishing for nearly 15 years. He was the chief editor of the EPUB 3 suite of specifications and has also played a key role in the design and writing of the new revision of the ANSI/NISO Z39.86 standard for authoring accessible content. The printed word by its very nature excludes a significant segment of the population from access to information. Readers with a print disability whether physical, visual, perceptual, developmental, cognitive or learning have been held at a disadvantage as compared to their peers. One in ten individuals is affected by a print disability, and this number more than doubles in the population aged over 50. It is estimated that only around 5 percent of books published each year are made available to readers with print disabilities.

17 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems 10 EPUB 3 represents the first key step in breaking down the walls of indifference that have held back a truly inclusive publishing model, one where accessible content can flow directly from publisher to consumer. This article will review how this can happen, and consider what remains to be done. Why EPUB 3? If we re going to fix the problem of information inequality, we have to find a solution that works from the source itself. Although DAISY digital talking books (DTBs) helped make print information accessible, the format never gained widespread publisher adoption. A new solution was in order, and it would have to be one that could offer the feature-richness needed for mainstream use. The mainstream e-book formats publishers have been producing, on the other hand, provide limited accessibility, even when taken fully into account. PDFs offer only basic structural information and text navigation, and depend on the person generating the PDF having the knowledge and the ability to properly prepare their source. Amazon s devices are not only inaccessible to many readers, but accessibility has been largely ignored in the HTML-based format itself. Even EPUB 2 provided only limited accessibility capabilities, being useful mainly for simple novels and the like. In fully embracing the goal of universal access to information by overhauling the EPUB specification, the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) has provided a larger platform from which to exact meaningful change. The IDPF is a global organization whose nearly 400 members include publishers, vendors and developers from around the globe and across the spectrum (trade, academic, science and technology, magazine, journal and more). By collaborating with the IDPF, DAISY has been able to ensure that accessibility is a core feature of this global standard. EPUB 3 improves on DAISY DTBs in all the following areas, without losing any of the original functionality like text and audio synchronization: Semantic inflection allows annotating of generic markup structures for richer reading experiences; Global language support both through XHTML5 and CSS3; Multimedia support native audio and video (no plugins), with the ability to include captions, subtitles and other timed tracks; Scripted interactivity full support for ARIA roles, states and properties; Accessibility standards a return to DAISY s web roots realigns work with WCAG 2.0 and simplifies comprehension of standards; and Enhanced text-to-speech PLS lexicons, SSML markup and CSS3 Speech The IDPF s long-term commitment to accessibility can also be seen in the makeup of the organization. George Kerscher, the Secretary-General of DAISY, is currently President of the IDPF board. Markus Gylling serves as Chief Technology Officer of both DAISY and the IDPF, and chairs the EPUB Working Group. By collaborating with the IDPF, DAISY has been able to ensure that accessibility is a core feature of this global standard. EPUB 3 was not just a one-time upgrade of the specification, in other words. It is the official successor to the DAISY 3 format, and the DAISY Consortium will continue to pursue its continued improvement and accommodation of all reader needs. Driving Change Although EPUB 3 presents a rich array of accessibility features, being built on the browser stack (HTML + CSS + JavaScript) means that EPUB 3 content can be made just as accessible and inaccessible as regular web content. To continue moving to an inclusive model, a lot of work remains to be done. The DAISY Consortium has been working with the IDPF and others to provide a comprehensive roadmap for publishers, including efforts to: change internal indifference to accessibility: Accessible Best Publishing Guidelines for Publishers; provide instruction and guidance on how to create accessible content: IDPF Accessibility Guidelines, Accessible EPUB 3 and EPUB 3 Best Practices; update validation tools to better check for accessibility issues: EPUB 3 Preflight with Accessibility; and improve on, and develop new, frameworks for content: DIAGRAM Center and Accessible InfoGraphics However, changes are also occurring outside of the format itself: Mainstream reading systems now offer native accessibility support: The open-source Readium project aims to be a feature complete reading system, and has recently been adopted by Benetech for their accessible Bookshare platform ibooks with VoiceOver provides an accessible reading experience for EPUB 3 content, including support for text and audio synchronization EDItEUR has developed Code List 196 for the ONIX metadata standard, which allows key accessibility compliance and features to be recorded. EPUB 3 allows these records to travel with the publication. As you might expect only a year into the life of EPUB 3, though, much work remains to be done.

18 11 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems The Road Ahead EPUB 3 may be an impressive vehicle for accessibility, but it s not the final destination. Getting to that destination requires everyone who works in publishing to begin making meaningful changes to their processes, products and tools. DAISY will continue its mission by focusing on all of the following: Helping to integrate accessibility into the full production chain, from author to Quality Assurance; Working with production tool developers to continue to improve the quality of their output, and how accessibility features are exposed; Simplifying the identification and correction of issues through automation; Ensuring that publishers include accessibility metadata with their publications and that online bookstores provide discoverability mechanisms; and Continuing to push for accessible reading systems, including increased configurability options to meet readers particular usability needs But change cannot happen without willing partners, and we encourage everyone in the industry to examine their practices and see how they can improve. The development of EPUB 3 can perhaps best be likened to the falling of the first domino: a key step on its own, but unless it triggers a chain reaction through the rest of the publishing ecosystem, only a symbolic one. Restricting access to information is now a deliberate choice, not an unfortunate consequence. Learning Points Today, an estimated 5 percent of books are available to readers with print disabilities EPUB 3 is a mainstream publishing format that integrates accessibility as a core feature EPUB 3 has been developed by the IDPF in collaboration with the DAISY Consortium and is the official successor to the DAISY 3 format EPUB 3 is only the first step towards developing accessible e-books at source; a change in process, products and tools is required The IDPF is working with the DAISY Consortium and a number of other organisations to help publishers and product developers to work towards a fully inclusive model using EPUB 3

19 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems 12 Industrial Opportunities for e-accessibility The Challenge of Deploying e-accessibility in Large Companies Sanofi has a top-level commitment to developing a structured and sustainable working practice to ensure e-accessibility is a real asset to patients, employees and the company as a whole. By Bruno Ménard, CIO at Sanofi Bruno Ménard is Chief Information Officer at Sanofi and Vice President of the Club Informatique des Grandes Entreprises Françaises (CIGREF). He graduated from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Lille and has a Masters in Finance from the University of Lille and a Graduate Diploma in Accountancy. He began his career with Sanofi in 1987 and held several positions in the finance departments in France and the United States. He was appointed General Manager of the Singapore branch in 1994 and of the Philippines branch in In 1998, he joined Sanofi Winthrop France as Resources Director. In 2001, he became Chief Information Officer of Sanofi-Synthelabo and in 2004 he was appointed Vice President of Information Systems, Sanofi-Aventis. Corporate Social Responsibility Is Integral to Sanofi s Development Strategy As a global healthcare leader, Sanofi has a duty to promote economic and social development while preserving the environment in an ethical and responsible manner. In order to ensure the company s long-term sustainability, the patient must be placed at the heart of the Group s business conduct. Each day, across the globe, Sanofi s 110,000 employees are working to protect health and improve access to healthcare. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is integral to Sanofi s development strategy: it drives performance, encourages innovation, attracts new talent and fosters pride among employees. E-Accessibility: Information for Everyone E-Accessibility forms a part of Sanofi s CSR strategy. Digital channels today provide some of the simplest and most efficient means of circulating information. According to Tim Berners-Lee, director of W3C and inventor of the World Wide Web, e-accessibility should make the Web available to all people, whatever their hardware, software, network infrastructure, native language, culture, geographical location, or physical or mental ability. There are two essential concepts at play here, namely giving access to the Web and to all individuals. The first recognizes the importance of providing access to digital information, whatever form that may take (websites, web-based applications, s, documents, images, etc.) and irrespective of the technology used. The second indicates that, even if accessibility in the first instance relates to users with physical, sensory, cognitive, or developmental disabilities, it concerns everyone. From one day to the next, users can find themselves faced with a disability of some kind, such as a broken arm, a mouse which doesn t work properly or a low-bandwidth connection which means that pages take too long to load. Adopting a Pragmatic Approach to e-accessibility One of the greatest challenges facing large organizations is reconciling e-accessibility requirements with other priorities such as security, efficiency, design and cost. For this reason, Sanofi has adopted a pragmatic approach to e-accessibility. Fulfilling all criteria necessary for WCAG A status from the outset can seem an insurmountable task. The company considers that, to start with, ensuring that 50 percent of our applications meet 80 percent of accessibility criteria is preferable to making only 10 percent fully compliant.

20 13 Business Case: Putting e-accessibility at the Core of Information Systems Persons with disabilities also offer demonstrations which are often very effective in conveying the importance of accessibility and the ease with which it can be put in place. The Information Systems department began by putting some best practice measures in place to enable employees with only a basic understanding of technology to integrate accessibility into their workflows. Members of staff are required to ensure that all functionality is keyboard-accessible, that all video content is accompanied by subtitles, that all images are complete with alternative text and that all content is correctly structured and tagged so that it makes sense when read without images, color schemes and relative screen positions. This demonstrates to what extent accessibility goes beyond technical requirements to include purely editorial considerations. To help colleagues adopt these new practices, we use development frameworks adapted to the production of accessible content and deployed as specific modules within our intranet and internet content management systems. These tools, for example, manage titles automatically and require that all images are accompanied by a text alternative. For all new projects, a minimum standard of accessibility is set and written into the project specifications to ensure it is correctly deployed in the development stage and beyond. To help project teams, we have set up a validation process in which all web content is reviewed by an internet committee. An accessibility specialist is available to assist the committee by showing them the advantages of accessible content and helping them to find satisfactory solutions. A network of accessibility staff has also been put in place to respond to specific questions on a day-to-day basis. Meanwhile, cycles of information and training have been organized for IT staff according to their specific field, from graphic design to code development. Finally, we have had to convince our partners and suppliers to meet these same standards. We have reviewed the accessibility of the most commonly used software applications among the 3,000 used by the company. We have worked with the developers of SAP software, for example, to ensure that its Human Resources component integrates accessibility to a satisfactory level. The Advantages of Accessibility Accessibility is a fundamental principle of the definition of the Internet and the Web, which itself is at the heart of today s digital technologies. It is important to note that, far from being a constraint, accessibility can be a real asset to a company. Of course, making information accessible can have a significant impact in terms of resource and investment. We believe, however, that this rarely exceeds 5 percent of the total cost, and that retrofitting web content for accessibility on the other hand can be much more costly and sometimes exceed 20 percent of the total cost of the existing system. But accessibility is ultimately beneficial, not only for people with disabilities, but also for our customers and for the company as a whole. Of course, it is of great value to persons with a mobility, mild cognitive, auditory or visual impairment, and indeed older people who may have more or less severe forms of these disabilities. Accessibility is ultimately beneficial, not only for people with disabilities, but also for our customers and for the company as a whole. Outreach and training programs have also been developed for Sanofi staff (approximately 120,000 people). All employees generate information on a daily basis and therefore must be aware of accessibility issues in order to play their part. An e-learning tutorial is available on our intranet which introduces staff to the concept, the issues, and the benefits of accessibility. It also presents five simple measures that can be followed to ensure content is accessible, such as making PDF documents accessible. Persons with disabilities also offer demonstrations which are often very effective in conveying the importance of accessibility and the ease with which it can be put in place.

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